Valve



H. F. SMITH.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1911.

Patented June 14, 1921.

By JAM 4. A? m. 1

l uw 0 l a 0-1} HTTO/P/VEVS W/T/VESSES 7%! W Wm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY F. SMITH, OF LEXINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GAS RESEARCH COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Application filed June 16, 1917. Serial No. 175,199.

. exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in valves and more particularly to an improved form of quick opening disk valve specially adapted to prevent any binding or sticking of the valve to its seat.

Heretofore it has been the common practice to employ some type of gate valve for controlling gas mains such, for example, as

because of the accumulation f tar.

the gas conveying pipes leading from gas producers, illuminating gas generators and the like. And a great deal of trouble has been experienced because of the large amounts of tar present in such gases. This tar collects in considerable quantity in the main and in the valve parts, and upon cooling frequently causes the valve to stick, or bind, tightly to its seat. At times these valves are so tightly stuck to their seats that the valve stem may be torn from the valve plate without bringin about any apparent movement thereof. 2 further objection to gate valves is that valves if this type large enough in size to control the big mains used in conveying gas occupy a great deal of space and are very inconvenient on that account. The valve forming the subject of my invention is particularly adapted to take the place of the valves now used in gas mains and in this valve 1 have eliminatedthe defects inherent in those valves heretofore used.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a disk valve adapted to open and close quickly and easily under all conditions of service. Another object is to so mount the valve that during the opening thereof every portion of the valve face moves directly away from that portion of the valve seat with which it cooperates, the tendency to stick or bind being thus quite largely eliminated. In addition a disk valve is provided having a very limited amount of surface contacting with an-equally limited area of valve seat when the valve is closed to thus still further minimize the danger of sticlinig ti another object of this invention is to so mount the valve that when it is moved to completely closed position it is held in such position against al ordinary back pressure.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description set forth below and illustrated in the accompanying draw- H12 in which Figure 1 is a sectional view through the valve 1n a plane perpendicular to the ion gitudinal axis thereof.

Fig. 2 is asectional view at right angles to F g. 1 showing the valve in open position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the valve in closed position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing one of the eccentric plugs or'rings. In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate like parts, 1 is a valve casing having at each end thereof a flange 2 adapted for cooperation with a standard pipe flange so that the valve may be inserted 1nto a pipe line, as for instance a pipe line serving as a gas conveying main. At one side of the valve casing 18 a large port having a cover plate 3 dctachably connected to the valve casing so that access may be easily had to the interior thereof.

At one end of the valve casing 1 is a valve seat 4 adapted to seat thereon a disk valve 5, the position of the valve seat being such that the valve when seated thereupon is located atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the valve casing. This valve seat is a V shaped rib extending entirely around the inner end of the valve casing and is so positioned that the edge of the rib corresponding to the point of the V constitutes the effective surface thereof. The valve 5 has the surface thereof coiiperating with the valve seat 1 inclined as shown at 6. Because of this inclination of the valve face 6 and because of the shape and position of the valve seat. cooperating therewith the contacting surfaces of these two members when the valve is seated are very limited, there being substantiallya line contact between the two. By so forming the contacting surfaces of the valve and valve seat a tight joint is as sured and at the same time stlcking or bindiIig of the valve upon its seat because of corrosion, accumulation of tar or other binding materials, or other causes is largely eliminated.

Extending across the back of the valve disk are two ribs 7. At one side of the valve are, two fins or ribs 8 extending at right angles to the valve disk. These fins 8 are shown as extensions integral with the ribs 7, but if desired they may be separate 7 8 in definite position upon the bar 9.

- is thus prevented while at the same time the members and ositioned out of alinement with the ribs 7. oosely mounted in the casing 1 is'a spring steel bar 9 which passes through holes 10 in the fins 8. One end of this bar is mounted in the projection 11 which forms an integral part of the valve casing, the other end thereof being mounted in 12, also an integral part of the valve casing. Surrounding the bar 9 and located at each end thereof between the fins 8 and the projections 11 and 12 are two spacing members 13. The purpose of these members 13 is to properly position the valve disk 5 with reference to the valve seat, their proportions being such that when in place they hold the fins In order to hold the loosely mounted bar in place the plugs 14 are inserted in the outer end of the passages through the projections 11 and 12. Extending through the ribs Tsubstantially midway of the valve disk are passages 15 adapted to loosely receive therein the spring steel bar 16, these passages being so located that when in position therein the bar 16 lies in a plane passing through a diameter of the valve disk. The position of this bar is also such that it is parallel to the bar 9, the pivot line of the bar 9 in turn lying within a plane passing through a chord of the valve disk, and outside of the valve disk itself. Mounted in opposite ends of the passages 15 are eccentric rings orplugs 17 adapted to receive the ends of the bar 16 to hold it in place. The eccen-. tric rings 17 fit loosely within the passages 15 and are adjustable therein. Passing through the walls of the passages 15 are set screws 19 which contact with the periphery of the eccentric rin s to lock them in any desired position. txtendingthrough thevalve'casingand to one side thereof is avalve stem 20 carrying upon its outer end an operating Wheel 21, and having at its other end a projection 20 extending at right angles thereto. This stem extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the valve casing and is therefore parallel to the valve disk 5 and to the bars 9 and 16, being located in a plane substantially midway between these two bars. Carried by the valve casing at the place where the valve stem passes therethrough and surrounding 'the stem is a stuffing box 22 containing any de-:

sired form of packing 23 In the outer end of this stufii ng box is a gland 24 urged toward-the packing by a spring 25 having its. opposite ends bearing respectively upon the gland and the inner side of the operating wheel 21. Leakage around the valve stem stem is held in proper position. Extending 1 in i m t e rehe g is i erotating the wheel 21 and with it the valve stem 20 will cause the valve disk to be swung about the steel bar 9 to thus move it to or from the valve seat 4. Located upon the outside of the valve casing about 180 apart,-

one upon each of the flanges 2, are two stops 28, and carried by the operating wheel 21 is a projection 29 adapted to cooperate with these stops to .limit the movement of! the wheel. The location of the bars 9 and 16 and of the operating stem 20 relative to each other and to the valve and valve seat, and the proportions of the members 20 and 27 are such that upon rotation of the wheel 21 the valve 5 is swung upon 9 as a pivot and every part of the valve face 6 moves directly away from that part of the seat at with which it contacts. This is by far the most important'feature of the whole structureand such movement of the valve, so far as known, cannot be secured by any positioning of the mounting and operating parts other than that shown. words, in order to insure the valve moving directly away from its seat at every point it is necessary to position the bar 9 to -one side of. the valve, 'to position the bar 16 along a diameter of the valve disk parallel to the bar 9 and to position the operating stem so as to exert a rotational force upon the valve similar in direction to that exerted by the stem and toggle mechanism shown. And in a one way valve, such as illustrated, positioning of the operating stem substantially midway bet-ween the bars 9 and 16 but at a distance from the surface of the valve disk greater than either ofthe bars is practit ally the only feasible arrangement. I v

The operation of the device is as follows When used in controlling gas mains the valve will be normally open as shown in Fi 2. If now it is desired to close the va ve to its seat the wheel 21 is turned which, actin through the link niechanism connecting t e valve stem to the bar 16, swings the valve intocontact with theseat. When the valve contactswith the seat the .wheel will not have reached the limit of In other to complete closure thereof the wheel must 1 be turned until further movement in that I direction is prevented- Such movement will require considerable force for the position of ti t st ps and the arra g 95 lb? link mechanism is such that the bar 16' must be flexed in completing closure of the valve to its seat. In other words the offset projection 20 and thelink 27 connected to toggle past center, the bar 16 having flexed during the closing movement of the valveto allow of its assuming this position. To open the valve reverse movement of the operating wheel is necessary and this reverse movement in its initial stages must take place against the resistance to deflection of the bar 16. It is evident therefore that by so positioning the operating and mounting parts of the valve structure a locking of the valve is secured suflicient to hold it closedagainst all ordinary pressure. And of course by varying the position of the eccentrics 17 the position of the bar 16 .relative to the other elements of the operating mechanism may be varied to thus change as desired the point of closure of the valve and the degree of locking of the valve to its seat.

The-parts of the valve are so positioned that when swung from its seat its opening movement is very rapid, a rotation of the operating wheel through an arc of 180 resulting in complete opening thereof. At-

tention is called to the structure of the valve and easing whereby an unobstructed flow therethrough is secured. As shown in Fig. 2 when in open position every part of the valve structure is located in planes parallel to the direction of flow to thus present the smallest possible amount of obstructing surface.

Not only are the operating parts of the valve structure and the pivotal mountings therefor so positioned as to insure a rapid and full opening of the valve disk, but, as

set out above, they are also so positionedand proportioned that upon opening movement thereof every partof the valve face 6 cooperating with the seat 4 moves directly away from that part of the seat with which it contacts. In this way sliding of the valve face over its seat is prevented and the tendency to bind because of corrosion, or the accumulation of viscous or sticky materials is eliminated. And ofcourse the very limited amount of contacting surfaces tends to further eliminate any tendency to bind or stick. I

The valve forming the subject of my invention is also extremely advantageous because of the economy in space when compared with such a valve as the ordinary gate valve. Such a valve when set into a twenty inch main requires a. clearance of about six feet in addition to the clearance necessary for the pipe line itself, whereas in my valve only a few inches of extra clearance are necessary. In actual practice this is a decidedly important consideration.

In In copending application filed July 31, 1920, S erial No. 400,391, is shown a, form of angle valve which is an improvement on the valve described herein, certain fundamental features of this invention being 'also present in the embodiment described in that copending application.

From the above description it is evident that I have invented a valve extremely simple in structure 1nd operation and one very eflicient in every way. I have described this valve as especially useful in controlling .the flow of gases through mains, but it is obvious that it is capable of many other and varied uses and I do not limit myself to the details of such disclosure except in sofar as they come within the scope of the ap pended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. 'In a quick opening valve comprisin a substantially cylindrical casing, a valve disk having a transverse rib across the back thereof and a second rib perpendicular thereto, a bar mounted in the casing and passing through the perpendicular rib, an operating stem, and means connecting said stem to the transverse rib substantially at the center of the valve disk.

2. A quick opening valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein; a valve disk associated with said seat, said disk be ing pivoted to the casing, the pivot points valve disk contacting with the valve seat move directly away from said" seat and the valve is quickly swung to wide open position.

3. A quick opening valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein; a circular valve disk associated with said seat, s a1d disk being pivotally attached to the casing and adapted to swing about a pivot llne lying within a plane passing through a chord of the disk, said line. also being outside of the valve disk itself; an operating stem passing through said casing and operatively connected at its inner end to the valve disk, the point of attachment lying within a plane passing through adiameter of the valve disk parallel to the said pivot hue and perpendicular to the valve disk; the construction being such that/upon actuation of the operating' stem to swing the valve about its p vot,

ing pivotally attached to the casing and adapted to swing about a pivot line lying within a plane passing through a chord of the disk, said line also being outside of the valve disk itself; a rotary operating stem 7 passing through said casing and having its inner end operatively connected to the valve disk, the point of connection with said disk lying within a plane passing through a diameter of the valve disk parallel to the said pivot line; the construction being such that upon rotation of the operating stem to SWlIlg the valve about its pivot all parts of the valve disk contacting with the valve seat will move directly away from said seat, the parts being also so constructed that a partial rotation of the operating stem will swing said valve disk into wide open position.

5. A quick opening valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein; a valve disk associated with said seat, said disk being pivoted at one side thereof to the casing, the pivot points being not shiftable; and a rotary operating stem operatively connected to said valve disk; the valve disk and operating mechanism being so constructed that less than a complete turn of the operating stem will swing the disk into full open or closed position; the disk when in full open position being positioned substantially perpendicular to the valve seat.

6. In a quick opening valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a disk valve pivoted near one edge thereof to the casing, a plurality of transverse ribs extending across the back of the said valve disk, a spring bar supported by the transverse ribs, an operating stem extending through the casing, link means connecting the stem to the spring bar, said means constituting in eflect a toggle and being ,so arranged that the middle joint of said-means is past center when the valve is'inclosed position.

7. In a quick opening valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a disk valve having two parallel transverse ribs on its back," two other ribs on the back of the valve disk and perpendicular thereto, aspring bar mounted in the casing and pass ing through the perpendicular ribs, a second spring bar mounted in the transverse ribs and parallel to the first spring bar, a valve stem extending through the casing subv stantially parallel to the valve disk the inner end thereof extending at right angles to :the main part of the stem, a link connecting t wea 'e the valve P t a 0nd spring bar, the, link and inner end of the valve stem constituting in effect a toggle so arranged that their middle joint is past center when closing of the valve to its seat is completed.

8. In a quick opening valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a valve disk, two transverse ribs on the back of the disk, two other ribs on the back of the disk and perpendicular thereto, a bar mounted in the casing and passing through the perpendicular ribs, a spring bar mounted in the transverse ribs parallel to the said first bar and lying in a plane passing through a diameter of the valve disk, a valve stem extending through the casing substantially parallel to the spring bar and a link mechanism constituting in effect a toggle connecting the stem to the center of the spring bar, all these said parts being so positioned that the middle joint of said link mechanism is past centerwhen the valve is in closed position.

9. In a quick opening valve, a valve disk pivoted at one side thereof to the valve casing, two spaced transverse ribs on the back of said disk having passages therethrough, eccentric rings mounted in the passages, a bar mounted in the eccentric rings, an operating stem for the valve disk, and means gonnecting the operating stem to the said 10. In a quick'openin valve, a valve disk pivoted near one side t ereofto the valve casing, two transverseribs on the back of the said disk, passages through the ribs lying in a plane assing through a diameter of the valve disk adjustable eccentric rings in the passages, a spring bar mounted in the rings, an operating stem for the valve disk substantially arallel to the said spring bar, and link meciianism connecting the operating stem to the spring bar.

11. In a quick-opening valve, a valve disk pivoted at one side thereof to the valve casing, a plurality of spaced transverse'ribs on the back of said disk having passages therethrough, eccentric ringsmounted in the pas sages, a spring bar mounted in the eccentric rings, an operating stem for the-valve disk, and link means connecting the operating stem to the said bar.

12 A quick-opening valve comprising a valve disk pivoted at one side thereof to the valve casing, spaced ribs on the back side of said disk havingqaassages therethrough, a spring bar mounted in the passages, an operating stem for the valve disk, means conieo bar mounted on the valve disk; and link mechanism connecting the operating stem to said spring bar; said link mechanism, operatin stem and spring bar having such operatlve connection as upon proper actuation of the valve disk to lock said disk in closed osition.

14. quick opening valve comprisin a casing having a valve seat therein; a 'va ve disk associated with said seat, the construction. of the valve disk and valve seat being such that when said disk is in closed position it is in substantially line contact with the said seat, said disk being pivoted to the casing, the pivot points being not shiftable and lying within a plane passing through a chord of the disk; an operating stem passing through said casing and havin its inner end attached to the valve disk, t e point of attachment lying within a plane passing through that diameter of the disk which is parallel to the line in which said pivot points In testimony whereof I affix my si ature. HARRY F. S TH. 

